Sapphire 5850 dummy plugs?

[um0rion]

O_O That did it! I didnt know you had to enable the cards displays. Thank you!!

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[dafishman]

I insulate between resistors. No Worries!

Dafishman

[Viro]

Is anybody shipping these to Europe?

[elcasey]

If there's still some interest in a few days I will figure out how much dummy plugs and resistors cost me and ship a few (worldwide).

I would just like to confirm that shorting the DVI connector on the card itself can destroy the card. Because it happened to me. Sapphire 5770, used a single 68Ohm resistor, card showed up in Catalyst and poclbm, seemed to be working fine ... and then I had to reboot for an unrelated reason. Win 7 would hard lock within 60 seconds of login. Even the reset button didn't work (which I didn't even think was possible). Pulled the card, works fine. Just got a replacement after ~2 weeks. How much money did that cost me, losing ~178MH/s for 2 weeks? So it's not worth it, boys.

I used this 5 Second Dummy Plug guide. It seemed like sound reasoning, but don't bet on it.

This is what I'm using now on 2 other cards - no problems whatsoever.

PM if interested in dummy plugs, I think I have 2 or 3 extras. 75 Ohm is the "ideal" resistor, apparently, but my local Radio Shack only stocks 68s and they seem to work fine. It's not hard to make them and 5 resistors cost a buck.

[bitcool]

This is what I'm using now on 2 other cards - no problems whatsoever.

oh boy, you just killed a bitcoin-dummy-plug industry in its infancy, how cruel.

[elcasey]

Dummy plugs go for around $4.50 (including resistor cost), shipping + materials (padded envelope) is $9. So we're looking at $13.50 my cost for shipping one of these to Estonia.

So if you're up for one for 2BTC, I'm willing to do it. I'll ship one out within 1 business day of receipt of payment. Just PM me on here for payment details and to confirm that you've sent payment.

If you can find someone to make one and ship from Europe I think it'd probably be a much better deal, but I'm happy to help. I just can't let it cost me money, as I'm sure you understand.

[elcasey]

oh boy, you just killed a bitcoin-dummy-plug industry in its infancy, how cruel.

HAHAHA!  Just trying to help, and you know some people are always going to think that's too complex or dangerous for them, or are just plain lazy (nothing wrong with being lazy if you're willing [and able] to pay someone else not to be!).

You guys can feel free to send me money to make these for you! 

[keybaud]

If you're using Windows you have to 'attach' the dummy monitor in the properties tab, so that Windows will use it.

This is the dummy plug I'm using:

http://blog.zorinaq.com/?e=11

Careful with DVI dummy plugs, if you short one of the resistors it can blow the video card itself.  The VGA guys are far safer, at worst you're out just the adapter.

The 4 pins and earth 'cross' are the analogue output from the HDMI port. You are putting a resistor across the same pins, so it doesn't matter if you do it on a VGA plug or on the HDMI port. As long as there is a resistor across the R, G or B channel, Windows thinks you've got a monitor attached.

[SgtSpike]

So why does everyone use three resistors when I hear that just one works fine?  Or is that the reason that elcasey's card blew - he was just using one, so it was an uneven resistance load on the card between the three channels?

It shouldn't make a difference whether you do it on DVI or VGA - they use the same wires, VGA just extends and reorganizes them.

[keybaud]

So why does everyone use three resistors when I hear that just one works fine?  Or is that the reason that elcasey's card blew - he was just using one, so it was an uneven resistance load on the card between the three channels?

It shouldn't make a difference whether you do it on DVI or VGA - they use the same wires, VGA just extends and reorganizes them.

People are putting resistors across all 3 channels, but they don't need to. I'm running 3 x HD5870, one with a monitor and 2 with 1 x resistor across 1 channel.

[elcasey]

I only used one resistor on the DVI plug attached to the card. I use three on the VGA side of a dummy plug. Maybe one would work, maybe it wouldn't. The information I had said to use three, so I use three.  If resistors were $4/ea. it might matter a little more, but they're like $0.89 for 5.

[csshih]

this thread took an interesting turn. I never figured out why it wouldn't work.

oh well. on linux now and loving it!

[elcasey]

Ha, that it did. I hate when someone asks a question and all the replies are basically "Works For Me (TM)". But I guess that's exactly what we did, as well as shameless advertising. 

[keybaud]

this thread took an interesting turn. I never figured out why it wouldn't work.

oh well. on linux now and loving it!

Did you read my original post?

If you're using Windows you have to 'attach' the dummy monitor in the properties tab, so that Windows will use it.

This is the dummy plug I'm using:

http://blog.zorinaq.com/?e=11

i.e. In Windows just the dummy plug isn't enough.

[allinvain]

You sure about that? I never had to attach a dummy monitor *shrug*

[csshih]

this thread took an interesting turn. I never figured out why it wouldn't work.

oh well. on linux now and loving it!

Did you read my original post?

If you're using Windows you have to 'attach' the dummy monitor in the properties tab, so that Windows will use it.

This is the dummy plug I'm using:

http://blog.zorinaq.com/?e=11

i.e. In Windows just the dummy plug isn't enough.

I saw your post, that probably would have fixed it but I already have both my rigs headless through SSH - not going back now!

[Basiley]

there is no way to just tweak Windows registry to ensure catalyst thats monitor was plugged-in and card must be operational ?
anyone there with Catalyst inner space knowledge can confirm/disagree with that ? or someone with DDK/disasm/debug  skills
or by card BIOS adjusting ?[RBE ?]

[keybaud]

You sure about that? I never had to attach a dummy monitor *shrug*

I did in Windows XP to get BFI_INT to work, but this may not be the same for all Windows OS if others haven't needed to.

[minerX]

So why does everyone use three resistors when I hear that just one works fine?  Or is that the reason that elcasey's card blew - he was just using one, so it was an uneven resistance load on the card between the three channels?

It shouldn't make a difference whether you do it on DVI or VGA - they use the same wires, VGA just extends and reorganizes them.

3 resistors is needed when you use a DVI-VGA adapter.  1 resister is needed if you plug the resistor directly into the graphics card.


Here is the guide to the 3 resistor dummy plug. 

http://www.overclock.net/folding-home-guides-tutorials/384733-30-second-dummy-plug.html

[keybaud]

So why does everyone use three resistors when I hear that just one works fine?  Or is that the reason that elcasey's card blew - he was just using one, so it was an uneven resistance load on the card between the three channels?

It shouldn't make a difference whether you do it on DVI or VGA - they use the same wires, VGA just extends and reorganizes them.

3 resistors is needed when you use a DVI-VGA adapter.  1 resister is needed if you plug the resistor directly into the graphics card.


Here is the guide to the 3 resistor dummy plug.  

http://www.overclock.net/folding-home-guides-tutorials/384733-30-second-dummy-plug.html

Not true. You only need 1 resistor in either case. HDMI plugs have analogue outputs as well as digital ones. The converter just converts the connection type from HDMI to standard VGA.

All you are doing is putting a resistor across the Red or the Green or the Blue channel (or all 3 if you use 3 resistors). These are the same channels at the HDMI output as the VGA output on the converter.